Clinton’s Thai gem

Thursday

Thai Time restaurant is located less than a block from several hidden gems tucked away in the small Central Mass. town of Clinton; the historic Strand Theater is just around the corner and across the street is the legendary Old Timers Pub. Thai Time is new in town, in comparison, but who ever said something has to be old to be a gem? Thai Time&rsquo;s small-town friendliness and tasty food is a pleasure to discover.

A long list of appetizers include chicken and beef satay, crispy and soft Thai rolls, as well as meatless offerings of scallion and chive pancakes, edamame and vegetable tempura. The Vegetarian Sampler ($8.95) is a simple, yet delightful, array of small, crunchy bites. Two vegetable rolls consist of shredded carrots, celery and cabbage; four tofu triangles with a crisp outer layer, which lack fl avor, but pair well with the dipping sauces served with the plate; two golden triangles with a crispy outer layer hold a potato and pea mixture with yellow curry seasoning; and the last and most flavorful, four fried chive pancakes that almost melt in your mouth.

The Pad Thai ($8.95) is fresh and satisfying, with a great balance of ingredients. A crisp and healthy presence of bean sprouts offset the heavier sauciness of the noodles; the crumbled peanuts come in a generous pile off to one side, allowing one to mix them in according to their own taste. The shrimp topped off the aesthetically-pleasing pile nicely, and though the flavor of the shrimp did not disappoint, the meal could benefit from a more generous portion of the seafood.

House specialities are offered during lunch and dinner, the former for a lesser price, and feature land and sea entr&eacute;es complemented with fresh vegetables and herbs and all served with a cup of white rice. The Spicy Fish ($14.95) is a whole de-boned striped bass, deep-fried, topped with a mildly-hot chili sauce with sweet tones. Crispy basil leaves are as thin as paper and dress up the dish aesthetically, however, do not add much to the overall taste of the dish. The fish is served warm, moist and flakes away from itself with ease. The flavor of the fresh bass and the delicious chili sauce pair well and make the dish outstanding from other entr&eacute;es. It certainly is deserving to be on the list of house specialities.

Spicy curry dishes are offered with nine different accompaniments, including traditional chicken and vegetables, to lessoften seen squid and duck. The Panang Curry with scallops ($13.95) comes served in a deep dish, piled high with long baby corn, sliced carrots, large stalks of broccoli, green peppers, a few shredded lime leaves and a modest amount of medium-sized scallops with the curry flavoring in a warm sauce at the bottom. The vegetables are freshly steamed; the scallops are plump and juicy, and while they do not provide a strong fish-flavor, the curry makes up for any lack of taste. The curry sauce is the highlight of this dish; with such great taste, it seemingly would dress up any of the land, sea or vegetable options nicely.

Vegetarians are catered to with special offerings including Veggie Pad Thai, Veggie Fried Rice and Vegetable Delight with mixed vegetables in season, stir-fried with garlic sauce, tofu and sliced ginger. The menu also notes that several non-vegetarian soups and main dishes can be prepared meatless. Being that not many of the meals at Thai Time use dairy products, it can be expected that vegans will also find a generous amount of options to choose from.

Thai Time is a quiet gem that should not be overlooked. The staff is friendly, welcoming and provide a relaxed atmosphere, not rushing diners, while at the same time, being prompt. Don&rsquo;t expect cheap American food, but rather eastern inspired meals that are priced for what you get &ndash; something a little different for the area, something of quality.